Raking & Re-pointing

Pointing is the term given to the ‘finish’ that is between the bricks or stone used to build your house.  Depending on the age of the building, the mortar used to lay the stone or brick will either be made from lime, or more recently, cement.  Incorrect pointing  causes irreparable damage to older buildings.  It is essential to understand what the mortar joints actually do for the fabric of the house. 

The function of the mortar in the wall is to act as a bedding between stones and varies from fine joints in ashlar stonework to larger joints in rubble masonry walls. Joints are effectively reduced in size by inserting small stones and ‘snecked’ pieces of stone. Whilst acting as a bedding the mortar must also perform other functions:

Prevent water penetration through the joints by its physical presence almost like a masonry‘ sponge’, yet it must allow the wall to breathe and drain, porosity being a key factor in the choice of a repointing mortar.

These pages will show you what to do, and what to look for when you are considering problems with the pointing of your home..